Hanger for elevator doors



- Feb. 19, 1929.

H. FELDMAN HANGER FOR ELEVATOR-DOORS Filed- June 30, 1926 Patented Feb.19, 1929.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY IELDMAN, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEELLE comm,

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HANGER FOR ELEVATOR DOORS.

Application filed June 30,

My invention relates to hangers for elevator doors, and moreparticularly to hangers for the upper door sections ofcounterbah anced,semi-automatic or full automatic elevator doors employing a plurality ofsections capable of moving in the same or in parallel vertical planes,and in opposite directions upon guides extending vertically uponopposite sides of the dooropenings in an elevator shaft.

Elevator doors of the type above referred to are manufactured in theirentirety in the factory, and the parts thereof shipped to the point ofinstallation, where erection gangs assemble the various parts and mountthem upon the guide rails. This erection work usually occurs inbuildings being constructed, the workmen being required to handle heavydoor sections not only in mounting them upon the guides or guide rails,but when sccuring the flexible connections between the door sections andadjusting the lengths of the connections in a manner to secure theproper opening and closing movements of the door, and the locating ofthe door sections with relation to the opening, to conform to therequirements of various ordinances and Fire Underwriters regulations.,lVhile ordinarily a rod and turnbuckle and a standard form of linkchain construction is used as the connections between the two doorsections, the turnbuckle is relied upon largely for readjusting thelength of the'conni-uitions in the event of stretch. after continueduse, and for perfecting an approximate adjustment secured whenconnecting the chains to the upper door sections and truing up theconnections on opposite sides of the door.

WVith the above conditions in mind, I have provided a hanger fiir useupon the upper door section, the construction of which is such as topermit the quick attachment of a chain thereto in a manner which willdistribute the load of the door sections throughout the hanger fittingand. throughout a number of adjacent links in the chain so as tominimize likelihood of the breakage, either of the hanger or of theportions of the chain co-operating immediately therewith. Theconstruction of this hanger is such as to admit ofits being made ofcast, maleable iron and of its being secured to the side bars of thedoor structure while in the factory.

1926. Serial No. 119,613.

While, if desired, the load of the door structure upon the chains may berelied upon to retain the chain in its operative relation to the hangerfitting, the construction of the fitting such that means positivelypreventing escape of the chain therefrom may be employed without undulyincreasing the bulk of the fitting or sacrificing any of thestrengthrequired to ensure permanency in the COD-113C, tion, by means of thefitting, between the chain and the door section. The construction issuch that variance in the dimensions, either of different fittings or ofdifl'erentlinks of the chain, will not interfere with the (lo-operatingrelation between the fitting and the chains, and will also ermit anyportion of a standard chain-to used in connection with the fitting. t y

Hanger fittings embodying my invention are symmetrical as to theopposite ends thereof, so that the same fittings may be used upon eitherside of the door bya mere reversal of {his fitting, each fitting beingboth right and \Vhile the construction oi' the hanger fitting issuch asto erlnit the quick connect-ion of a chain with re ation thereto, thusfacilitating the initial adjustment in the length .of the chain wheninstalling the elevatorrdoors, its construction is also such that inmaking the adjustment, if desired, the chain length bet-ween the doorsections may be lengthened or shortened approximately one-half thelength of alink. Such adjustment is desirable because of the frequentirregularities in the locating of door openings of a building ascompared with the showing of such upon the architects plans andresulting misplaceinent of sheaves, and stops in the guide rail structure. l I

The invention consists primarily in a hanger for elevator doors,embodying thereina fitting having spaced side Webs thereon forming. anapproximately central, laterally enlarged pocket of about the length ofthe link plates of the chains, and an end channel leading therefrom ofabout the widthuof such plates, whereby the stresses from the load onsaid chain will be distributed to both of saidside webs, and meanswhereby said fittingmay be secured to the side baaro f an elevator door;and in such other novel features of construction and combination ofparts, as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view of a counterbalanced elevator door structure condensedvertically and laterally, illustrating the application of a hanger of myinvention to the upper door section, the hanger bar of the lower doorsection only being shown;

Fig. 2 is a view of the hanger fitting upon a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is aview ofthe fitting from the right of Fig. 2; and

Fig. & is a view similar to Fig. 2, but upon a smaller scaleillustrating how the chain may be secured to the lit-ting in a manner tosecure an adjustment of one-half the length of the longer links in thechain.

Lilte numerals refer to like parts through out the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, 10 indicatesthe upper door section of a counterbalanced freight elevator door, and11 the hanger bar of the lower door section, it being understood thishanger bar is permanently secured to, and forms a part of, thetop bar ofthe lower door section.

At 12 are the wall angles and at 13 are the guide rail structures forthe door sections, which are of the usual and well known construction,being shown in the drawings mere- 1y to illustrate the small spaceavailable for the handling of the chains when installing a door.

In older door constructions in older buildings, it was the practice toconnect the chains toward the top of the upper door section, since inthe old buildings the distance be tween floors was usually very muchgreater thanin modern buildings, and the door openings themselves werevery much smaller.

The section 10 moves upwardly, and the section carrying the hanger bar11 moves dmvnwardly upon the rails 13.

Following the usual practice, the OPPOSll'P. ends of the hanger bar 11each haveconnected therewith a rod. let forming a part of the connectionbetween the door sections, this rod including therein a turnbuckleconstrue tion 15.

Connected to the upper end oi each rod is a l l@X1l)lB,ll11l chain 16passing about a sheave 17 carried by each guide rail structure 12 and v18 respectively. The axes of the sheaves 1? are at right angles to thewall of the shatt, the pivots of the chain being parallel with theseaxes. The length of the connection be tween the upper door section andthe hanger bar 11 is such as to have the two sections meet substantiallycentrally oi' the door opening and provide the required overlapping ofthe upper and lower door sections and the lintel and sill of the dooropening. The sheaves 17 are located on the guide rail structures 12-13with relation to this meeting point of the two door sections, and sincethe layout f the rail structure including the sheaves and their assemblyis made ordinarily from architectural plans, any variation in thelocating oi the door opening from such plans requires adjustment in thelength of the flexible connections which may be done either by varyingthe point of the chain which is connected with the door section, or byactuating the turnbuckles 15.

Upon the opposite side l of the upper door section 10, I firmly securehz'rnger fittings 18, these fittings ordinarily being mounted upon thebars toward the bottom oil the door section so as to permit a run of asullicient length of chain 16 about the sheaves 17, to allow a fullopening movement of this door section, and bring the astragal thereofclose to the lintel ol' the door. This hitting 18 comprises a flange 19having rivet or bolt openings therein by means of which the fitting maybe secured to the side bars out the door section. At one edge of thisflange, I provide an angular flange 2O projecting from the side bartoward the guide rail to an extent to bring it in substantially theproper relation to the sheaves 17 to ensure a free running of the chain16 during the opening and closing movements of the door.

The flange 20 has oppositely disposed side webs 21 and spaced apart topermit the passage of the chain 16 therethrough in a manner to behereinafter described. The contour of the webs 21 and 22 is such as toform a laterally enlarged pocket 23, the greatestwidth of which is aboutthat of the length of the link plates in the chain 16, the walls of thewebs at this point being curved to conform substantially to thecurvature of such links.

Leading from the enlargement 23, substantially along the center line otthis enlargeinent, are constricted channels 24; and the webs forming theopposite walls of which being curved substantially as shown. The widthof the cl annols 2t and 25 is about that oi the narrower-Pt dinunis onot' the link plates ol the chain 16.

The ogce contoru' oi the walls of the webs 21 and adjacent theconstricted channels 24; and 25 is "for the purpose of allowing certainplay in the portion of the chain co-opcrating with the iitting in orderto secure a more el fective distribution of the stresses re sulting Tourthe load transmitted to the fit ting through the chain.

The webs 21 and 22 adjacent the channels 2% and 25 are extended as shownclearly in Fig. 3, beyond the point where stresses are transmitted tothe hanger fitting. to term :26 having openings therein to receivecotter pins 527, or other means passing across the channels 24; and 25for preventing any possible escape of the chain from the fitting as aresult of the violent jars and impacts to which doors ot' this characterare subjected.

By providing the opposite channels 2d and moments 25 in the hangerfitting, such fittings may be used upon either side of the door bymerely reversing the fitting. This construction also permits the end ofthe chain to pass entirely through the fitting, thus avoiding any greatnicety as to the length of chain used, and permitting adjustment of itslength without cutting ot' the chain. It also permits the nesting of thechain, either in the manner shown in Fig. 2, which practice, itfollowed, will permit adjustment equalling only the length of the linkplates, in the chain, or the manner of nesting as shown in Fig. 4, whichpermits an adjustment amounting to approximately onehalf of the lengthof such links.

\Vith the construction of fitting described, a chain may be readilyflexed to the desired position and adjoining links slipped within thepocket or enlargement 23 and the constricted channels 24 and 25, themere positioning of these links securing an etlective inter lock betweenthe fitting and the chain. By having the pocket or enlargement and channels of slightly larger dimensions than those of the link plates ofthechain, ease in the fitting of the links of the chain is assured, andnicety in the pro )ortioning of the pocket and channels is avoi ed, thuspermitting the production of the fittings by ordinary casting operationsand avoiding the necessity of machine work upon these fittings.

Assuming that the connection is of the form shown in Fig. 2, an outerlink of the chain will be seated in the pocket 23, one adjacent outerlink will be fitted in the upper channel 2i and the other adjacent outerlink will be fitted in the lower channel 25.

\Vith the parts in this position, when the load of the door sectionscomes upon the chains, the link in the channel 24 will have a slidingvertical movement in relation to the fitting, thus causing theconnecting link between it and the link in the pocket 23 to pivotagainst the side web 21 above the pocket 23, and thus impart a lateralthrust through the link in said pocket against theportion of the webforming the lower part of said pocket 23, the link in the pocket 23having a slight tilting movement. The slight pivotal movement of thelink connecting the one seated in the channel 24 and the one seated inthe pocket 23 will also have the eflect of thrusting the lower end ofthe link in the channel 24 against the web 22 and the link below thatseated in the pocket 23 will be thrust against the web 21. 1

In this manner the loads upon the chain will be distributed to both webs21 and 22 at points of these webs where there is the greatest mass ofmetal, and wear upon the chain will also be distributed throughout thevarious links of the chain above referred to, so that even withconsiderable wear of the chain there will be an automatic readjustmentin the relation of the fitting and the links of the chain co-oper' atingdirectly therewith.

lVith the mounting of the chain in the manner shown in Fig. 4, theconditions will be the same as heretofore described, since with thisarrangement inner or connecting links are seated in the enlargement orpocket 23 and the channels 24 and 25, and the outer links extend uponthe opposite sides of the links in the pocket to within the saidchannels, thus actinv as levers in the manner above described.

If it be desired to adjust the length of the chain with the relation ofparts shown in Fig. 2, an adjustment amountingto the length of one ormore full links must be made. when changing the relation of parts fromthat shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4, an adjustment ofapproximately one-half the length of a link may be made.

\Vhile under normal conditions the direction of the stresses through thechain upon the fitting 18 is such as to avoidlikelihood of the escape ofthe chain from between the side webs 21 and 22, as a safeguard againsttam pering with the chains or displacement of the chains with relationto the fitting by abnormal conditions, I preferably provide the cotterpins 27 passing through the openings in the lugs 26 and across thechannels 24 and 25 re spectively. These pins are subject to nosubstantial strains and serveas an effective barrier. It is to be notedthat the lugs 26 are at one side of the points of contact of the linksof the chain with the webs 21 and 22 so that the holes for the cotterpinsdo notweaken these webs so far as the sustaining of the load of thedoor is concerned.

The fittings 18 as heretofore started, may be of sandcast, annealediron, since the ordinary markings of the mold do not interferewith theuse of such fittings, provided thecastings are fairly clean. In fact,clearance between the links otthe chain and the walls of the webs isnecessary to secure the desired gripping action as a result of themovement of the links as described, this clearance being sufficientlygreat to compensate for slight imperfections in the casing. Careshouldbe taken to have the flange 20 and the webs 21 and 22 sufiicientlyheavy to withstand the maximum strains to which they will be subjected,al-

though fittings of the same dimensions may be used with a considerablerange in the sizes of different doors so as to permit thestandardization of this part as to'all doors produced. The weight of thefittings is not great, but this is immaterial since in the type of doorsherein referred to, the addition of weight to one section or the otherisnecessary either to secure an approximate balance of the two sectionsof;

the door, or the overweighting of one of these sections in relation tothe other. i 1

While I have described the hanger fitting in connection with specialtypes of doors,

the conditions during the erection of which are such as to make thefitting particularly desirable, it is not my intention to limit the useof the fitting with such. doors, particularly since its use, if desired,may be extended to other types of doors.

It is not my intention to limit the inven tion to the precise details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, it beingapparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit andscope oil the invention.

Having described the invention, what if claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent,

1. A hanger it'or elevator doors, embodying therein a fitting havingspaced side webs thereon forming an approximately central, laterallyenlarged pocket of about the length of the link plates of the chains,and an end channel leading therefrom of about the width of such links,whereby the stresses from the load on said chain will be distributed toboth of said side webs, and means whereoy said fitting may be secured tothe side bar of an elevator door.

2. A hanger for elevator doors, embodying therein a fitting'havingspaced side webs thereon forming an approximately central, laterallyenlarged pocket of about the length of the link plates of the chains,and end channels of about the width of such links leading respectivelyfrom the top and the bottom of said pocket, whereby the stresses fromthe load on. said chain will be distributed to both of said side webs,and means whereby said fitting may be secured to the side bar of anelevator door.

3. A hanger tor elevator doors,-e1ubodying therein a fitting, having aflange where by the fitting maybe secured to the side bar of an elevatordoor, an migular flange carried ther iy, and. side ebs upon said angularflange forming an approximately cent" laterally enlarged pocket of aboutthe h ot the link plates of the chains, and an end channel leadingthereironl of about the width of such links, whereby the strc. s fromthe load on said chain will be dis ributed to both of said side webs.

4. A hanger for elevator doors, embodying therein a fitting having aflange whereby the fitting may be secured to the side bar of an elevatordoor, an angular flange car ried thereby, and side webs upon said angular flange forming an approximately central, laterally enlarged pocketof about the length of the link plates or the chains, and end channelsof about the width of such links lead ing respectively from the top andthe bottom of said pocket, whereby the stresses from the load on saidchain will be distributed to both of said side webs.

5. A hanger for elevator doors, embodying therein a fitting, havingspaced side webs thereon. forming an approximately central, laterallyenlarged pocket of about the length of the link plates of the chains, anend channel leading ther tom of about the width of such links, wherebythe st "asses troui the load on said chain will be distributed to bothoi, said side webs, and lug-rs upon said side webs projecting beyondsaid channel, means adapted to pass through said i are and arrm's saidchannel to prevent the escape oi a chain from said channel and saidPOClELlgyllhl means whet-eh"- said fitting: may be secured to the sidebar oil an elevator door.

A hanger :tor elevator doors, embodying therein a fitting having spacedside webs thereon forming an approximately central. laterally enlargedpocket of about the length of the link plates oi the Challis, endchannels of about the width ol' such links leading respectively from thetop and the bottom of said pocket, whereby the stresses from the load onsaid chain will be distributed to both of said side webs, and lugs uponsaid side webs projecting beyond said channels, means adapted to passthrough said lugs and across said channels to prevent the escape oi achain from said channel and said l'MJClCQl', and means whereby saidfitting may be secured to the side bar of an elevator door.

7. A hanger tor elevator doors, embody ing therein a i'tting having aflange where by the fitting may be secured to the side bar of anelevator door, an angular flange carried thereby, and side webs uponsaid an ular fiance forming; an approximately central, lati sly enlargedpocket oil about the length of the link plates oi" the c' ains, cudchannels oi about the width oi such linlis leading rcspswlivcly from thetop and the bottom oi said pocket, whereby the stresses from the load onsaid cit-an will be dis tributed to both ol said side webs, and ionsupon said side webs projecting beyond said channels, means adapted topass through said lugs and across said channels to prevent the escapeoil a chain from said channels and said pocket.

In witness wln-zreol l have hereunto ail?- fixed my signature, this 25thday of June,

HARRY FELDZMIAN

